I just wrapped up my TGFBI draft. For those who don’t know, this is a 15-team, two-catcher Roto league featuring the top players in the fantasy baseball community. This league uses standard 5×5 Roto categories. Below, you will find each of my picks and a breakdown of why I took each player.
Round 1, Pick 10: OF Juan Soto
Soto is in a contract year, is one of the best hitters in baseball, and is now going to benefit from hitting in Yankee stadium. He will also be hitting in front of Aaron Judge; although he has already been amazing in his career, this could be Soto’s best season yet.
Round 2, Pick 6: 3B/SS Elly De La Cruz
There is risk in drafting De La Cruz because of his AVG/OBP. His skill set is elite, though, and I expect him to be great in four categories. He could be a top-10 player by season’s end, and I am willing to take any risk.
Round 3, Pick 10: 2B Jose Altuve
Safe. Reliable. In a good lineup spot on a good team. An average booster who still hits for power and swipes bases too. You can never have enough Altuve-like players on your teams.
Round 4, Pick 6: SP Logan Gilbert
Gilbert is an innings eater. He pitches in a great ballpark and on a competitive team. He has 200-K upside with good ratios and could take the next step forward in becoming a true ace this year.
Round 5, Pick 10: SP Grayson Rodriguez
Rodriguez plays on an elite team and has elite stuff and an elite pedigree. He could end up as a top 10-12 SP this season and, like Gilbert, has the potential to be an ace.
Round 6, Pick 6: SS Oneil Cruz
Cruz is going later than he should due to missing most of last season. He has five-tool talent with endless upside and top-20 overall potential.
Round 7, Pick 10: SP Dylan Cease
Cease has been inconsistent with his ratios over the past couple of seasons but also has three straight seasons of 200 Ks. I am expecting him to make it four, and he could be traded to a contender at some point, which would only help.
Round 8, Pick 6: SP Joe Ryan
Ryan pitches in a weak division, racks up strikeouts, and will be a very solid and reliable SP4. In some leagues, people have drafted Ryan as their SP2.
Round 9, Pick 10: OF Wyatt Langford
Langford is a potential star who could go top 50 next season and has moved into the top 100 in ADP since this draft began. I’m feeling like this could be my best pick of the draft.
Round 10, Pick 6: C Willson Contreras
Contreras is a reliable, consistent, solid C1, and this is a good price. He is my favorite catcher this draft season based on where you can draft him and what he delivers.
Round 11, Pick 10: OF Ian Happ
Happ is a solid OF who can do a bit of everything and hits in a good lineup spot. I wouldn’t like him as an OF2, but I like him very much as an OF3.
Round 12, Pick 6: SS Willy Adames
Adames is in a contract year and brings good power, runs, and RBI production. Hopefully his batting average improves in his walk year.
Round 13, Pick 10: 1B Rhys Hoskins
Hoskins has always been an elite power bat when healthy, and he will be hitting in the middle of a Brewers lineup that has lacked a big bopper. This is a good price for a 27-33 HR hitter.
Round 14, Pick 6: SP Aaron Civale
Civale is a good pitcher who has shown signs of being great. This will be his first full season pitching for the Rays, who get the most out of their players. A career year and his most complete MLB season could be coming.
Round 15, Pick 10: OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Lourdes continues to be underrated. He is safe, solid, plays every day and is on a good, young, competitive team. He is a decent OF3 and a good OF4.
Round 16, Pick 6: RP Kyle Finnegan
I desperately needed to get a closer after waiting this long to draft one. Finnegan by no means is elite, but he does have the job and his stiffest competition in Hunter Harvey can never stay healthy.
Round 17, Pick 10: 1B Justin Turner
Turner had a tremendous season a year ago and is now on a better team with elite hitters around him. He should be an average booster and RBI machine in Toronto.
Round 18, Pick 6: RP David Robertson
There’s no clear-cut closer in Texas right now. Robertson is one of the favorites to close out games and has been one of the most consistent ninth-inning guys in the Majors over the past decade.
Round 19, Pick 10: RP Yuki Matsui
This pick was a gamble. I drafted him after he was already injured. He should be ready for Opening Day, though, and has excellent stuff. At the very least, he is in the mix for saves in San Diego. These are the type of players you need to draft when you don’t take a closer early.
Round 20, Pick 6: 1B Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo was one of the best hitters in the American League last season before colliding with Fernando Tatis Jr on a pickoff attempt. He was never the same after that and eventually needed to be placed in the IL. He’s healthy once again this season though and will be hitting in the middle of a very talented Yankees lineup.
Round 21, Pick 10: SP Jameson Taillon
Taillon had a rough first season overall in Chicago. However, he put together a strong second half and enters 2024 as a SP who should provide wins, a sub-4.00 ERA, and around a K per inning.
Round 22, Pick 6: OF Jake Fraley
Fraley is projected to hit in the 3 or 4 spot in the Reds lineup and has always crushed RHP. I won’t start him every lineup period, but when he’s slated to face mostly RHP, he will be in my lineup and produce in every category.
Round 23, Pick 10: C Gary Sanchez
Sanchez has always hit for power. He will be the primary DH for the Brewers which will allow him to just hit and not be criticized for his poor defense. 20+ HR could be coming and I love that from my second catcher.
Round 24, Pick 6: SP Trevor Rogers
He’s far removed from his amazing 2021 season, but by all accounts, Rogers is healthy this spring and his velocity is where it needs to be. This is a high-upside bench pitcher.
Round 25, Pick 10: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong
Although he may not make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster following the Cody Bellinger signing, PCA is an elite prospect who can help in every category. He is worth a flier, and even if he starts the year in the minors, he should be helping the Cubs and your roster very soon.
Round 26, Pick 6: 2B Davis Schneider
He was very good in his small taste in the big leagues last year. The Jays have weaknesses at 2B and 3B heading into the season, and Schneider could hit his way into an everyday role.
Round 27, Pick 10: SP Casey Mize
The former first-rounder missed all of last season but is back and healthy again this spring. His velocity is back where it needs to be, and although his command hasn’t been good thus far, he is a player who could have a nice season once he finds his groove.
Round 28, Pick 6: 3B Yoan Moncada
There is nothing exciting about Moncada. As a bench bat, though, he is solid. He plays every day and is good insurance at 3B. There’s always hope that he finally reaches his potential.
Round 29, Pick 10: RP Chris Martin
This was purely a speculative pick. Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen is currently hurt and hasn’t thrown in a game yet this spring. If he starts the season on the IL, Martin looks to be the favorite for save chances early on.
Round 30, Pick 6: OF Charlie Blackmon
It’s hard to believe that the once first-round fantasy pick is now available in the final round of a draft. Blackmon is up there in age and is no longer a great fantasy asset, but he does bat leadoff, plays half his games in Coors Field, and provides a nice bench bat and some security in the OF.
